Today We Die (The Killing Sands Book 1)

by Daniel Wilde

  As the team once again monitored and celebrated the successful deployment of WDD, Gortari II passed over the Gulf on its approach to Verida. The detonation had been on time, and the ship was safe.

  But the small team’s celebration halted in an instant as they watched the monitors in horror, along with millions of people around the world, as Gortari II was struck by a projectile which breached the outer hull of the ship. At the speed the ship was moving, it disintegrated almost instantly. The heavier portions of the hull continued primarily forward into the gulf. Debris, including portions of the ship and its contents, were caught up in the dispersing winds of hurricane Miguel and were spread across a wide geographical area. The smallest and lightest materials were propelled by the wind in every direction as they dropped to the Earth.

  Marcus left the room as his team stared in shock and horror at the monitors. He lifted his arm and punched a few numbers into his watch.

  “Sir?” Marcus said moments later when the com picked up. “What happened?”

  “An accident Marcus.” Then the com disconnected.

  January 27, 2093, 5:12 PM Eastern Time—Hidden Bunker near Boston

  “What the . . .!” John Silitzer shouted. He watched, along with the others in the bunker, as Gortari II was blown from the sky. Nobody else said a word. After his initial outburst, even John sat quietly, watching the Holo.

  After several long moments, Dr. Shevchuk finally whispered, “Let’s get back to work . . . please.” Nobody moved for several more minutes.

  January 27, 2093; evening—Shift

  Today, just after 5:12 PM our time, Cuba launched a Stimpled Missile at Gortari II during its descent to Earth. We watched it decimate the ship, live! Unfortunately, the missile was fired after Gortari II had already entered Earth’s atmosphere and just as Gortari II flew through a defused hurricane. The resulting explosion and trajectory through the dispersing winds of the hurricane caused pieces of the ship and likely pieces of the bodies of nearly 3,000 people to be propelled all over North, Central and South AM, including the Atlantic Islands and the Caribbean. What a disaster!

  Because millions of people were watching Gortari’s return live, including the IWO and local governments around the world, the governmental backlash was immediate and tremendous. Immediate sanctions were issued against Cuba, just hours ago, and no trade with Cuba or travel between Cuba and other nations will be permitted in the foreseeable future.

  Cuba has defended its decision with the argument that, even though the Mexican colony had been cleared of infectious disease by the IWO, the possibility that even one person aboard the ship could be infected was too great to risk allowing the ship to land on Earth, especially given the proximity of Mexico to Cuba. Frankly, I can’t argue with that logic, but Cuba’s unilateral decision to shoot down the ship, and the timing of that event were terrible.

  The ultimate consequence of the IWO’s decision to allow the departure of Gortari II from the moon, and the consequence of Cuba’s decision to destroy the ship so close to its landing in Mexico remains a question. Time will tell. It’s possible that there actually was no disease on board. I hope so. But dang-it Cuba—with your backward, stubborn communistic ways. All of that stuff Anta and I discussed last week actually seems relevant now.

  January 28, 2093—Shift

  During our staff meeting today, John handed each of us a copy of a recent news article, dated today, from NBC. It’s interesting that John likes to give us paper, rather than just electronically sending these articles and information to our MEHDs. We each have one now. We use them to communicate with each other from various parts of the bunker, and we use them, personally, to communicate with our families, even though that communication is supposed to be hush-hush. Anyway, back to the article:

  The fallout, both literally and figuratively, of Cuba’s decision to destroy Gortari II upon its descent to the Mexican Space Administration Base in Merida, Mexico has been gruesome, swift and decisive. The IWO, fearing retaliation against Cuba by its member states, immediately initiated sanctions against Cuba, including an air and sea military blockade outside the territorial boundaries of Cuba and forbidding the entrance to or departure from the island nation, except for non-citizens wishing to leave to return to their homes. These individuals will be given until January 30 at midnight to arrange for, and take leave of the island.

  Despite the IWO’s sanctions, Cuban officials report thousands of death threats to persons at all levels of government. Many such threats are reported to have originated within Cuba’s borders. Cuban peace officers and military agencies have been activated for increased security, particularly around the Cuban shorelines and air bases.

  We have heard that one Cuban official, speaking on condition of absolute anonymity, blamed others outside Cuba for the decision to destroy the Mexican ship. During the interview, allegedly, a masked man or woman approached the official, shot him in the head, then fled. Whether it was a random act of violence or otherwise, is presently unknown. The shooter has not yet been apprehended.

  Sparking the international wrath against the Cuban government is the death of at least 2,921 Mexican nationals and 31 foreign citizens who had initially been quarantined within Mexico’s lunar colony and not allowed to leave. This scale of mass murder has not been seen anywhere on Earth in decades.

  The IWO, while contemplating various measures for discipline, has failed, as far as the Mexican government is concerned, to implement the one policy which needs to be implemented now—a counter-attack. According to an anonymous source within Mexico’s State Ministry, many members of Mexico’s bureaucracy and citizenry have called for an immediate counter-attack including missile strikes by the IWO upon Cuban military bases and governmental offices. So far, the IWO has not commented on any such calls for action.

  In addition to the devastation of thousands of families, many homes and gardens from New Jersey to the eastern coast of the Brazils have been littered with spacecraft debris and body parts from the Mexican ship as a result of its flight through the winds of hurricane Miguel, which had just been diffused using a modern, and suddenly-controversial process known as “wind dispersion and diffusion” or “WDD”.

  This catastrophe is not only alarming in its scope, but also in revealing the potential for destruction by one lone rogue country.

  This reporter expects to see increased calls for counter-attack. Of course, it should be expected that increased measures will be implemented against Cuba to force them to apply for admittance to the IWO so that the destructive weapons within its borders may be removed and placed within the control of the Central Weapons System Agency of the IWO.

  There you have it—Cuba is in big trouble. They’ve been very naughty. But I’m intrigued by the mention of an anonymous official who was shot. He apparently blamed others for this mess. It will be interesting to see what comes of that, if anything. It is entirely likely, however, that the man or woman was just afraid. It’s human nature to look for a scapegoat.

  While we sat there reading the NBC story, John handed us each another document. This one was a print-out directly from the IIA database, dated today, January 28, 2093.

  International Interagency Assembly database, January 28, 2093

  Outpost 17 log post (1241 LT)

  Be advised:

  HELP ME!!! I may be the only person left alive on the moon.

  My name is Dr. Jonas Sampson. I am an astrophysicist currently located in a shell roughly 6.5 lunar miles from the Poland colony. I have been here since January 2, 2093. I was posted here to take atmospheric measurements of . . . well, none of that matters now.

  I received word of the Anthrax E (I think that’s what it’s called) outbreak many days ago and was advised to remain where I am. I was then told that I couldn’t leave. All travel between the colonies through the tubes was restricted. My shell is not attached to the tubes. I got here via rover. It still sits outside.

  I haven’t heard from anybody in the colonies in two da
ys. At that time, I received a message, via handheld transmitter, from a colleague in the Portuguese-Brazil shell. She told me that she was sick and nearly everybody she knew was already dead. She told me to stay here and that my only chance of survival was to get to the Mexican colony, where nobody had contracted the disease, or to stay where I am.

  I’ve been trying to contact colleagues in the Mexican colony for that past three days. I’ve also attempted contact with Mexico’s Emergency Systems and Operations Division. Nobody answers. Nobody responds. Plus, I watched a shuttle leave yesterday.

  I just figured out how to hack into this system. I’ve never used it before. I don’t know how to access prior posts. I don’t know whether Mexico has been compromised or whether anybody is even there anymore. I also don’t know whether this message will be received by anyone.

  Thankfully, my food, water and oxygen processors continue to operate. I’m worried that they may cease at some point, however, since this shell wasn’t meant to be used long term. I don’t even know enough about the machines to service them.

  Somebody please respond.

  IWO log post (1247 LT):

  Be Advised:

  Dr. Sampson, it is with great pleasure, and great concern, that we receive your log post. We respond to your post from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. We have not received any communication from the moon in nearly 40 hours. Unfortunately, Mexico has left the moon. The nation was authorized to return to Earth two days ago by the IWO. Departure occurred yesterday. Upon descent to Earth, Gortari II was destroyed by a missile fired from Cuba. There were no survivors.

  It is unknown whether there are others in like circumstances on the moon. We have not been hailed by any lunar colony apart from Mexico in many days, and we have had no contact with any smaller shells via this system. We do not have access to local communication channels, but we hope that you do.

  We are currently analyzing possible escape plans to facilitate your return to Earth. This analysis has been underway since yesterday, contingent upon learning whether there were any survivors; but no plan has been finalized.

  Be advised that there are 23 other outposts similar to the one in which you are located—a total of 24 shells not connected to the tube system. Of those 24 outposts, present data indicates that 19 are outfitted with life support systems, including food, water, waste and oxygen systems. At last report from the IIA, several days ago, at least 12 of them were, or may still be occupied. It is unknown whether any of those outposts still contain living humans or whether more than 12 may now contain humans. It is advisable that you not enter any of those shells without first contacting its inhabitant(s), if any.

  Prior to entering any shell, it is incumbent upon you to first learn when the current occupant arrived at the shell, whether he or she has left that shell or had any visitors and whether, in the past 144 hours, the current occupant has experienced any coughing, bloody stool, bloody phlegm, aches and pains, headache, fever, or any other physical symptom associated with a common cold or worse. The attached document will provide detailed instructions about how to proceed prior to entering any new shell.

  Furthermore, you will also find, attached to this post, a set of instructions to help you navigate this log system. Remember that communication with other shells that may hold survivors not already logged into this system will be up to you. Lastly, you will also find, attached, a file containing systems instructions for maintaining all devices currently supplying life support.

  Please contact us at short intervals with your progress. This system in monitored continuously.

  This Sampson guy has got to be terrified. He just learned that everybody is dead, Mexico is gone, and they’re all dead, and that he may be alone on the moon.

  There’s an old book I read a long time ago as a teenager called The Martian. It was about a guy who was left alone on Mars. His crew, believing he was dead, and in peril themselves, made a hasty retreat from the surface and left him there. He wasn’t dead though, and he had to learn how to live for a long time, alone, until he was rescued.

  Dr. Sampson, even if he is alone, won’t have to go through any of the struggles that “The Martian” had to endure. Sampson has all the life support provisions necessary to sustain him indefinitely. He’s “lucky”, some might say, but I wonder whether he feels the same way. What he doesn’t know, yet, is that Anta’s brother, Hasani, was also told to find a shell. He may be alive out there somewhere, and if so, there might be others too. God speed to them all!

  January 31, 2093—Entry in the Anthrax E database by Dr. Yurgi Shevchuk

  Our Egyptian friends, Mrs. Neirioui Safar and Suvan Safar, continue in their health. Upon their arrival here on January 26th, tissue samples from their bodies, although already infected, were intentionally contaminated with a second dose of Anthrax E recovered from the gazelle specimens brought here by Shift and Anta. Those specimens have not shown signs of decay or illness.

  The date of the Safar’s original exposure to Anthrax E in El-Alamein was at least nine or ten days ago. Based upon the timelines recorded among those previously infected with Anthrax E, it appears, rather conclusively, that they are immune. We will begin work with their DNA to try to replicate such immunity in order to develop, if possible, a vaccine for Anthrax E.

  January 31, 2093—Shift

  Anta and I have now been in the ‘secret lair’ of our devoted scientist friends for 10 days. In that time, we’ve only been allowed to leave once, just before Gortari II was shot down. We sat by the lake outside to ponder life and breathe the fresh air. Anta was, and still is, going crazy being locked up in here. Now, her growing fear of some kind of problem resulting from the Mexican ship’s destruction has made her determined to see the world outside again. Perhaps we’ll be able to.

  I’m glad we went outside when we did. It’s beautiful here. The deep snow that day covered the ground and several small animals scampered past us through the trees, not realizing the danger we aggressive and terrible humans posed to their well-being. We saw deer, rabbits and squirrels. We even saw a skunk, even though that unfortunate animal has been on the Endangered Species list for nearly 20 years. I would’ve happily smelled that skunk too, if I’d known then that I may not get to go outside again for a long, long time.

  I miss my nieces, and Arilee too. I haven’t seen them in person in a month now. They’re doing okay. I see them every few days on the Holo. Diamond is still doing well in school and she and Cedar are both having fun with their friends.

  Seeing them on the Holo today, playing in the snow in their yard, reminded me of my own childhood, which seems far away right now. After dad died, when Arilee and I were very young, mom, sad and directionless, moved us and our meager belongings to Denver, Colorado where she’d grown up and where her mother still lived. We moved in with grandma.

  My childhood was normal, I suppose, albeit without a father. I went to school, both in person and through Holographic Education Displays, or “HEDs” at home. I played street games with my friends, participated in four-dimensional holographic projection movies in our entertainment parlor, raced drift bikes, played basketball and soccer, played virtgames, and took piano lessons from an irritable woman on our street named Helena. Man, I miss Helena too. Arilee and I were very close, like siblings should be. Those were pretty good days. I’m a little worried that Diamond and Cedar won’t get to live and love life like Arilee and I did.

  February 1, 2093—Shift

  John just gave us a news article, dated today, from NBC. This stuff is getting real crazy.

  This morning, in a disastrous follow-up to last weeks’ destruction of Gortari II, Cuban ground and air fire killed at least 6,044 people and injured at least 185 more. Cuban officials argue that the attack was provoked by Mexican outlaws as they stormed toward Cuba, en mass, by boat.

  Sources in Mexico indicate that approximately 6,000 Mexican citizens, acting independent of the Mexican government, attempted to attack Cuba in order to avenge the loss o
f their bothers and sisters who died when Cuba shot down Mexican Gortari II on its approach to Earth from the Lunar Colonies. IWO sources indicate that 48 members of the IWO Peace Corps were killed as they attempted to interfere with the Mexican citizens’ attempted attack on Cuba.

  While both the IWO and Cuba have declined to release any further detail of the Cuban attack on Gortari II, speculation is rampant, with various sources indicating that persons aboard Gortari II may have contracted the now-infamous “Anthrax E” which appears to have wiped out all personnel in the other lunar colonies.

  In other news, the Cuban Police Agency has declined to speculate on the ‘anonymous Cuban official’, who was allegedly shot in the head while giving a news interview shortly after the destruction of Gortari II, or on the whereabouts of the alleged attacker. To date, there is no positive proof that the event occurred.

  February 2, 2093—Staff Meeting—Hidden Bunker near Boston

  “That’s nuts, man!” shouted Dr. Andrew Jones, a biological researcher from New York.

  “Indeed, Andrew.” Dr. Shevchuk was also having difficulty containing his emotions.

  “What’s nuts?” Anta asked as she and Shift entered the room for the afternoon staff meeting.

  “CNN and the IWO,” Dr. Shevchuk said, “are both reporting today that Hospital Herrera Llerandi in Guatemala City believes one of its patients has contracted Anthrax E.”

  “How did it happen?” Shift asked, quietly.

  “Apparently an 84-year-old gentleman presented at Hospital Herrera Llerandi with complaints of coughing and bloody mucus. He said he’d picked up what he believed was a bloody human finger that landed in his yard on January 27; and now he’s sick.”